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Coast Guard rescues fishermen struck by pirates

Ten fishermen attacked and by pirates and left adrift of the Essequibo Coast in the Pomeroon area were rescued by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard on Sunday, authorities said.

The GDF and police are said to be conducting a probe into the two incidents but so far the Guyana Police Force has not issued any statement about the incident.

Authorities did not say whether anyone was arrested or detained in connection with the piracy attacks which included the use of firearms. There were no reported injuries.

The GDF said a five-man crew of the fishing vessel “Tony” was the first to report being attacked by pirates. They victims made good their escape and filed their report at the Coast Guard Floating Base, Coast at the mouth of the Pomeroon River.

Immediately, and in keeping with GDF’s Standard Operating Procedures, the GDF said Coast Guard ranks at the Floating Base launched a patrol between the mouth of the Pomeroon River and Morawhanna.

The patrol encountered another five fishermen in an unnamed vessel who also reported having been attacked by pirates. Their boat was taken along with the engines for the vessel in which they were found tied up and they had been left adrift at sea. The Coast Guard hailed a fishing trawler and instructed that the men be taken to Charity, where they subsequently made a report to the police.

Both fishing crews reported that they came under gunfire while the perpetrators made good their escape. The matters are being investigated further by the Coast Guard and the Police.